Astilbe plant named ‘Harvandermeerwhite’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Astilbe plant named ‘Harvandermeerwhite’, characterized by its tall, broadly upright and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely and uniformly flowering habit; pure white-colored flowers on tall, upright and strong peduncles; and good container and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Astilbe chinensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HARVANDERMEERWHITE’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION AND STATEMENT REGARDING PRIORDISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT

This application claims priority to a European Community Plant Breeders'Rights application filed on Feb. 6, 2020, application number 20200384.There have been no offers for sale anywhere in the world prior to theeffective filing date of this Application and no accessibility to one ofordinary skill in the art could have been derived from the printed PlantBreeder's Rights documents.

The Inventor/Applicant asserts that no publications nor advertisementsrelating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred morethan one year prior to the effective filing date of this application.Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from adirect or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. Applicant claims aprior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/orsales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to theeffective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Astilbe,botanically known as Astilbe chinensis and hereinafter referred to bythe name ‘Harvandermeerwhite’.

The new Astilbe plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Nieuwe Wetering, The Netherlands. Theobjective of the breeding program was to create new uniform and freelyflowering Astilbe plants with attractive leaf and flower coloration.

The new Astilbe plant originated from an open-pollination in 2013 inNieuwe Wetering, The Netherlands, of Astilbe chinensis ‘Harvandermeer’,not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown Astilbechinensis seedling selection as the male, or pollen, parent. The newAstilbe plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a singleflowering plant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollinationin a controlled greenhouse environment in Nieuwe Wetering, TheNetherlands during the summer of 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Astilbe plant by vegetative divisions ina controlled nursery environment in Nieuwe Wetering, The Netherlandssince December, 2015, has shown that the unique features of this newAstilbe plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Astilbe have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Harvandermeerwhite’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Harvandermeerwhite’ as a newand distinct Astilbe plant:

-   -   1. Tall, broadly upright and mounding plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Freely and uniformly flowering habit.    -   5. Pure white-colored flowers on tall, upright and strong        peduncles.    -   6. Good container and garden performance.

Plants of the new Astilbe differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent, ‘Harvandermeer’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Inflorescences of plants of the new Astilbe are larger than        inflorescences of plants of ‘Harvandermeer’.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Astilbe are pure white in color        whereas flowers of plants of ‘Harvandermeer’ are pink in color.

Plants of the new Astilbe can be compared to plants of Astilbe chinensis‘Vision in White’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,965. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Astilbe and ‘Vision inWhite’ differ primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Astilbe have darker green-colored leaves        than plants of ‘Vision in White’.    -   2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Astilbe are larger than        inflorescences of plants of ‘Vision in White’.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Astilbe are pure white in color        whereas flowers of plants of ‘Vision in White’ are more creamy        white in color.

Plants of the new Astilbe can also be compared to plants of Astilbechinensis ‘Harvandermeerrubyred’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.31,439. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Astilbe and‘Harvandermeerrubyred’ differ primarily in flower color as flowers ofplants of the new Astilbe are pure white in color whereas flowers ofplants of ‘Harvandermeerrubyred’ are dark red purple in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Astilbe plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Astilbe plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) is a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘Harvandermeerwhite’ grown in acontainer.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view oftypical inflorescences of ‘Harvandermeerwhite’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the late summer in 18-cmcontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Nieuwe Wetering, TheNetherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Astilbeproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperatures rangedfrom 20° C. to 40° C. and night temperatures ranged from 8° C. to 24° C.Plants were one year old when the photographs and description weretaken. In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Astilbe chinensis ‘Harvandermeerwhite’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Astilbe chinensis ‘Harvandermeer’,            not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown Astilbe chinensis seedling            selection, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative divisions.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About three weeks at temperatures            about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy; typically brown in color,            actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; tall,            broadly upright and mounding plant form with inflorescences            held above the foliar plane; flowering stems and leaves            basal; freely flowering with numerous basal branches            developing per plant, dense and bushy; vigorous growth            habit; and freely and uniformly flowering habit.        -   Growth rate.—Moderately rapid; from divisions, about three            months are required to produce fully-grown flowering plants            in containers.        -   Plant height (soil level to top of foliar plane).—About 48.6            cm.        -   Plant height (soil level to top of inflorescences).—About            74.1 cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 72.8 cm.        -   Stem description.—Length: About 33.7 cm. Diameter: About            3.5 mm. Internode length: About 16.2 cm. Strength: Strong.            Aspect: Erect to about 5° from vertical. Texture and luster:            Moderately pubescent; slightly glossy. Color, developing:            Slightly darker than 195A. Color, developed: Close to 144A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; biternately compound; on average,            about 33 leaflets per leaf.        -   Leaf length (excluding petiole).—About 38 cm.        -   Leaf width.—About 29.9 cm.        -   Terminal leaflet length.—About 8.4 cm.        -   Terminal leaflet width.—About 4.3 cm.        -   Lateral leaflet length.—About 5.9 cm.        -   Lateral leaflet width.—About 2.7 cm.        -   Leaf shape, in outline.—Broadly ovate to broadly deltoid.        -   Leaflet shape.—Ovate to broadly elliptic.        -   Leaflet apex.—Apiculate to acute.        -   Leaflet base.—Short attenuate to obtuse.        -   Leaflet margin.—Biserrate; not undulate.        -   Leaflet texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces.—Moderately pubescent; slightly glossy.        -   Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Leaflet color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to            137B. Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to 147B.            Fully expanded leaflets, upper surface: Close to NN137A;            venation, close to 143A. Fully expanded leaflets, lower            surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 145C.        -   Leaf petiole length.—About 29.6 cm.        -   Leaf petiole diameter.—About 2.5 mm.        -   Leaf and leaflet petiole strength.—Strong.        -   Leaf and leaflet petiole texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces.—Sparsely pubescent; glossy.        -   Leaf and leaflet petiole color, upper surface.—Close to            144A; towards the base, close to 184A; at the nodes, close            to 187A.        -   Leaf and leaflet petiole color, lower surface.—Close to            144A; towards the base, close to 185A; at the nodes, close            to 183C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single rotate flowers            arranged on terminal compound panicles; flowers face            upright, outward or downward depending on position on the            inflorescence; panicles conical in shape; freely and            uniformly flowering habit with about 2,000 flowers            developing per inflorescence and about 20,000 flowers            developing per plant during the flowering season.        -   Fragrance.—Strong; sweet and pleasant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about 13            weeks after planting; continuously flowering from late            spring until late summer in The Netherlands.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about ten days on the            plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Height: About 3.5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Shape: Ovate. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte.            Color: Sepals, close to 145C and petals, close to NN155D.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 30.1 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 10.8 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 1.1 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 6 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single            whorl. Length: About 6 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape:            Oblanceolate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Narrowly cuneate. Margin:            Entire; not undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Developing petals,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155D. Fully expanded            petals, upper and lower surfaces: More white than NN155D;            color does not change with development.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single            whorl, lower 60% fused towards the base forming a            campanulate-shaped calyx. Length: About 2.5 mm. Width: About            1.25 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate, fused.            Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Developing sepals,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 150D. Fully expanded            sepals, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 155A; colors do            not change with development.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 29.3 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.            Angle: Mostly erect. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster:            Moderately to densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color:            Close to 144A to 144B.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm. Angle:            About 45° from peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately strong.            Texture and luster: Moderately pubescent; matte. Color:            Close to 145C to 145D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically            ten; anthers basifixed. Filament length: About 3 mm.            Filament color: Close to NN155A. Anther shape: Broadly            ovate. Anther length: About 0.3 mm. Anther diameter: About            0.2 mm. Anther color: Close to 155C. Pollen amount: Scarce.            Pollen color: Close to 155A. Pistils: Quantity per flower:            Two. Pistil length: About 1.75 mm. Stigma diameter: About            0.1 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to            195D. Style length: About 1.5 mm. Style color: Close to            157A. Ovary color: Close to 145C.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have            not been observed on plants of the new Astilbe.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Astilbe have    not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Astilbe plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Astilbe have been observed to    have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind, temperatures    ranging from about −25° to 35° C. and to be suitable for USDA    Hardiness Zones 5 through 10.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Astilbe plant named‘Harvandermeerwhite’ as illustrated and described.